Continuous monocropping highly affect the composition and diversity of microbial communities in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Continuous cropping systems are the leading cause of decreased soil biological environments in terms of unstable microbial population and diversity index. Nonetheless, their responses to consecutive peanut monocropping cycles have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the structure and abundance of microbial communities were characterized using pyrosequencing-based approach in peanut monocropping cycles for three consecutive years. The results showed that continuous peanut cultivation led to a substantial decrease in soil microbial abundance and diversity from initial cropping cycle (T1) to later cropping cycle (T3). Peanut rhizosphere soil had Actinobacteria, Protobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes as the major bacterial phyla. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota were the major fungal phylum, while Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota were the most dominant phyla of archaea. Several bacterial, fungal and archaeal taxa were significantly changed in abundance under continuous peanut cultivation. Bacterial orders, Actinomycetales, Rhodospirillales and Sphingomonadales showed decreasing trends from T1>T2>T3. While, pathogenic fungi Phoma was increased and beneficial fungal taxa Glomeraceae decreased under continuous monocropping. Moreover, Archaeal order Nitrososphaerales observed less abundant in first two cycles (T1&T2), however, it increased in third cycle (T3), whereas, Thermoplasmata exhibit decreased trends throughout consecutive monocropping. Taken together, we have shown the taxonomic profiles of peanut rhizosphere communities that were affected by continuous peanut monocropping. The results obtained from this study pave ways towards a better understanding of the peanut rhizosphere soil microbial communities in response to continuous cropping cycles, which could be used as bioindicator to monitor soil quality, plant health and land management practices.

Performance of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) and Land Equivalent Ratio under Maize-Groundnut (<i>Arachis hypogea</i> L.) Intercropping System

“…Reports by FAO [21] and Mallano et al [22] showed that tilling agricultural lands constantly without rotations and fallows could erode farmlands, which could reduce soil fertility and crop yield. Most areas are associated with low crop yield and increasing production through opening of new farmlands has restricted potentials.…”

Isolation and identification of antagonistic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HSE-12 and its effects on peanut growth and rhizosphere microbial community

“…Peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important cash and oil crop in China, as well as a rich source of protein, vitamins, minerals and medicinal active ingredients such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds ( Li et al, 2021 ; Mallano et al, 2021 ). Due to the high economic benefit and limited planting area, peanuts are often intensively planted.…”

Maize-peanut rotational strip intercropping improves peanut growth and soil properties by optimizing microbial community diversity

“…Maize ( Zea mays L.) is one of the three most important cereal crops, while peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) is the main oil crop and economic crop in the world. However, long-term continuous cropping has caused soil nutrient imbalance, serious soil erosion, bad seed quality and lower yield ( FAO, 2021b ; Mallano et al, 2021 ). Evidence indicates that intercropping with greater plant richness produces more roots, which contribute to the formation of soil aggregates; optimize the soil physical structure, which improves the soil chemistry parameters; and increase straw coverage, which decreases soil erosion ( Gamboa et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020b ).…”

“…Rhizosphere soil microorganisms play an important role in crop growth and can be used as effective biological indicators of soil conditions ( Singh et al, 2009 ). It can clearly be seen that abnormal soil microflora is one of the main obstacles to continuous cropping ( Mallano et al, 2021 ; Song et al, 2016 ; Yuan et al, 2021 ). Numerous previous studies have confirmed that crop intercropping and rotation are an effective way to break the continuous cropping barrier and an important part of conservation agriculture ( Aschi et al, 2017 ; Hobbs, Sayre & Gupta, 2008 ).…”